2006 JJA Jazz Awards Report

The Jazz Awards event at BB King's Monday, June 19 was a blowout requiring
much preparation, quick and exhausting work by a season troupe of volunteers, an
intense party with dozens of jazzers at work and play, fast breakdown and
then follow-up, which is what the production team is still doing now —
but let me tell you the Awards — which kicked off with Gene Martin managing
a riotous photo of attending musicians and nominees — and pianist Ezra Weiss,
an ASCAP composing award winner, with a slam bang sextet driven by Billy
Hart. By 4:10 when the Awards were introduced there was a full house, 450-some
jazzers including the first honoree of the afternoon: Roy Haynes, receipient of
the JJA's Lifetime Achievement in Jazz.

Other Awards recipients: Sonny Rollins, Musician of the Year — represented
by Terri Hinte, A Team winner; Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane,
Record of the Year (represented by Thomas Evered and Alan Bergman, Esq., Blue Note
Records). Toots Thielesman, represented by Hendrick Meurkin. Paquito D'
Rivera, represented by Diego Urcola.